Pipe stacking appliance for oil wells



Nov. 15,1932. 5. v. DODSON 1,887,901

' PIPE STACKING APPLIANCE FOR OIL WELLS,

Filed Dec. 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .m, m 0 w J 0 w & a BM E L m at W M U X z I %N\ O Q XYIJP l\ l h o (I 1% mm r1: T In! I :1 v a C J l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I N ON m m NM) WI A. WN NM N A mm: N Q N. N. m "u .N. N: wN P N. mm

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Nov. 15, 1932. s. v. noosoN PIPE STACKING APPLIANCE FOR OIL WELLS Filed Dec. 12. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Janey F 00 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY V. DODSON, F FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VICTOR L. COLLINS, OF FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK PIPE STAGKING APPLIANCE FOR OIL WELLS Application filed December 12, 1930. Serial No. 501,993.

In the drilling and operation of oil wells, it is frequently necessary to withdraw piping from the hole and stack the same temporarily in one side of the derrick until it is to be reinserted in the hole. This is particularly the case in the drilling of deep wells where the rotary drilling element is borne at the lower end of piping operated from the derrick. The great length of this piping involves a large number of lengths or sections which require to be stacked in the derrick at quite frequent intervals as the hole has to be cleaned out. Heretofore considerable trouble has been experienced from the tendency of these pipe lengths to become disarranged and massed in the stack in such way that it is difficult to segregate the individual lengths successively as required to reinsert them in the hole. This trouble has been experienced not only in deep well drilling operations, but also in the withdrawal of the tubing in the subsequent operation of the well.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable, and efiective appliance for holding such pipe sections in definite pro-arranged stacked formation so that each section is instantly accessible for re-assemblage and-reinsertion in the hole as required. The distinctive features will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the features of novelty will be thereafter pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig.1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing a portion of an oil well derrick with a quantity of pipe sections stacked therein in accordance with my invention, the top portion of the derrick being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic horizontal section showing the appliance of my invention in plan on a larger scale.

appliance of my invention on a still larger scale, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation with portions broken away, one scale similar to that of V Fig- Fig. 3 is a partial plan view showing the- 10 indicates an oil well derrick which for deep wells is ordinarily well over 100 feet in height. In accordance with my invention,

I fit and secure to the girts a shelf support 11 of stout plate metal suitably reinforced and supported by angle irons -12 underneath the same. This shelf support is fitted in place extending across one side of the derrick at a height of approximately to feet, i. e., at such a height as to be somewhat below the tops of the pipe sections as they are stacked in the derrick and rest upon the floor thereof. This shelf support extends from the side of the derrick only part way toward the central point C and its front edge facing the 65 derrick center, i. e., the line of pipe withdrawal is reinforced by a stout flange 13. This flange has a curved inset portion 13a opposite the center C afiording a temporary rest for the top of a pipe section as it is withdrawn 0 from the hole, and disengaged from the pipe line. The shelf support 11 is provided with a plurality, shown as two in number, of longitudinal slots 14 extending lengthwise and intermediate the width thereof, these slots re-- ceiving bolts 15 which secure to the shelf in adjusted position a series of housings 16.

As shown, the bolts 15 pass through somewhat elongated slots 16a inv ears 16b of these housings, so as to provide the necessary take-up and adjustment as the housings are adjusted along the length of the shelf 11 as now to be described. Each of these housings has slidably fitted therein a pipe or rod'member 17 bearing on its upper side a rack 18. These racks are engaged by double sided pawls 19 which are pivoted at 20 at thelower ends of levers 21 which are fulcrumed at 22 to lugs extending upwards from the housings 16. These levers 21 thus afford means for adjusting the pipe members 17 inward and outward, it being understood that the pawls 19 may be reversed as required to move these pipes in either direction. The pipes or rods 17 constitute pipe engaging members which are adapted to be adjusted-outward from the shelf 11 to engage the line of pipe sections P as they are successively set in place by the operative, and hold them against disarran ement. Preferably these members have their forward ends beveled as indicated at 23, so as to more readily .engage over the successive pipe sections. I

preferably mount in the opposite end portions of the housing 16 antifriction rollers 24 which are mounted on studs 25 that are fitted for eccentric adjustment, to guide the rods 17 in an easy and correctly aligned movement. Set screws 26 are provided to hold these rollers in properly adjusted position. 27 inclicates a platform on which the operative stands in manipulating the pipe sections to stack them. This platform is borne at one end of a stout arm 28, the other end of which is fixed in a bracket member 29. This bracket member is fitted to slide on a squared portion 30a of a stout rod 30. The rod 30 is journalcd at its end portions in bearing brackets 31 fixed to the shelf 11. The rod 30 has fixed to the outer end thereof an arm 32, and this arm has its outer end engaged by a cable 33 which extends over a pulley 34 and bears a counterweight 35, which is of a size to substantially counterbalance the weight of the platform and arm 28 so that this platform may be easily swung upward out of the way or downward to rest upon the shelf 11 in operating position as required. This platform extends outward from the shelf 11 to a point in proximity to the central line of the derrick, so that the operative standing on said platform may be enabled to reach the pipe lengths as they are pulled out of the hole and are located in the center C of the derrick. The platform 27 is equipped with struts 36 at its inner side adapted, when the platform is swung downward, to rest upon the inner edge portion of the shelf 11, so that the platform 27 is supported thereby. Arms 37 provided with beaks 37a are pivoted to the inner portion of the platform at 38, these arms constituting hooks which are adapted to engage under the edge of the shelf 11 and hold the platform locked down thereto against casual displacement during the course of operations. These arms have rigid therewith a counterweight 39 which normally tends to swing them inward into engagement with the shelf 11 with a capability of easy disengagement by the operative when required.

e operation of the described mechanism will be readily understood from the drawings, especially Fig. 2 thereof. It will be understood that any necessary number of the housings 16 and pipe engaging rods 17 will be provided, there being four of such rods illustratively shown which will be sufficient for most operations. It will be understood that at the beginning of an operative cycle, the pipe or rod members 17 are all withdrawn inward within the line of the edge of shelf 11. Then, as the pipe sections are placed along the sides of the derrick in a line L, the first retaining pipe member 17 is progressively adjusted outward just far enough to hold each pipe section as it is put in place.

When this first line of pipe sections is completed, a second line L is set in place with a corresponding outward adjustment of the second retaining pipe member 17. Then the third row of pipe sections L is set in place, and so on until all the pipe sections are withdrawn from the well and stacked in aligned relation at one side of the derrick. Then as the pipe sections are to be replaced in the well, the retaining pipe members 17 are progressively withdrawn by operation of the levers 21, after reversal of the position of the pawls 19, as will be readily understood. The housings 16 may be adjusted along the shelf 11 to accommodate different sizes of pipes and to bring as many as necessary of the operative units bearing the respective pipe members 17 into operative position as may be necessary. During the ad justment of these units the platform 27 may be-swung up entirely out of the way and then swung downward again tooperative position affording a station for the operative from which he can reach the pipe sections as they are withdrawn, and swing them around into stacked relation as described. As the successive lines of pipe are stacked, the platform 27 is slid along the squared portion 30a of the rod 30 to bring it to position for the most convenient use of the operative as will be readily understood.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather thanto the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. An appliance for stacking pipe in oil Wells comprising a shelf support adapted to be secured intermediate the height of the derrick, and members adj ustably mounted on said support and equipped with means for positively adjusting them selectively outward from said support to engage progressively pipe sections as they are stacked in the derrick.

2. An appliance for stacking pipe in oil wells comprising a shelf support, a plurality of housings individually adjustable thereon, rod members borne by said housings equipped with a rack and pawl device for adjustment therethrough whereby said members may be projected outward from such support to engage pipe sections as they are progressively stacked, and means for adjusting said members inward and outward from said support.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a support adapted to be fixed intermediate the height of a derrick, a. plurality of elements individually adjustable along said support, and also inward and outward therefrom to engage lines of pipe sections as they are stacked in the derrick, and a platform constituting an operating stand mounted on said support for adjustment into and out of operative position, said platform when moved up out of operative position permitting adjustment of said elements thereunder. 4. An appliance for stacking pipe in oil wells, comprising a shelf support ada ted to be mounted intermediate the height 0 the derrick, a plurality of housings mounted for adjustment along the length of said support, rods fitted in said housings for adjustment therein, means for adjusting said rods inward and outward with respect to said shelf, and a platform constituting an operating stand swingingly mounted on said support, said weight, and with means for holding the same detachably engaged with said support when in operative position. i

In witness whereof I have aflixed my name to this specification.

SIDNEY v. DODSON.

platform equipped with a counter- 

